Health disparities and women's reproductive health.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is the institute within the National Institutes of Health that has played a great role in the conduct and support of research in women's reproductive health. In this position, the NICHD is advancing the health and well-being of women and girls in many areas, including research on uterine fibroids, birth outcomes, and community interventions that can improve health. This paper provides a general overview of the NICHD-sponsored women's reproductive health research portfolio, with emphasis on the challenges associated with eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in leiomyomata uteri and infant mortality. In addition, opportunities for community partnerships in reducing health disparities are described.